Automatic air-ejecting apparatus for heating systems.



imply" Il E. R. TELLER, JR.

AUTOMATIC AIR EIECTING APPARATUS FOR HEATING SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED MAH. 8,-19I5.

1,177,288. Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

S? A S M S I ASIILIIIIIIIIIII IS I ,IIIII 7 Ja Q i i I j S IN VEN TOR THB CcILUMBxA PMNOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNT-np sTATEs PATENT OFFRE# I viinvviiiin R. TELLER, Jn., or wnsawgoolnnnw Jirnsum AU''.roirifn'rie nin-nanocrine nrrAnaTUs" Een HEATING 's's'inivis fr mames.

Tall -fwwm t mayconcem f Y Be it known that '1, EDWARD R. TELLER, Jrg, ,a citizen of the United "States, and a resident of lVe'stwood, in Athe county of Bergen and State of New' Jersey, have -made and invented certain new and useful Improve.

ments V-in Automatic Air-Ejecting Apparatus for Heating Systems, of which the following is4 a specification.

vThisv invention' frelates to an apparatus for automatically ejecting air from `steam and vapor ylieatiing systems, the object be'- of to provide an. apparatus of this character which will .dispense with the use of;

separate automatic air outlet valves'at each radiator, and in addition, will provide for a continuous vacuum, materially facilitating the removal of air from the vheating sys.

tems. 4

A kfurther object is to provide an automatic thermal-'controlled valve mechanism which may be easily and quickly adjusted, so that the ytei'nperature at which the valve closes, maybe changed, and with the various parts so arranged that they maybe readily removed, and other parts substi-V tuted therefor, should it be sonecessary. The thermal-controlled valve mehanism is further arranged, so--that all danger and likelihood of high-compressive strains arising within the expanding member, due to abnormal tempera-turcs or pressures, are eliminated, and lthe long life of the nlecha.- nism is therefore assured.

Another object is to provide zapparatus of 'the class mentioned, `wherein a continuous vacuum is Vmaintainedby a cenn'ection Whichileads .into thefchimney flue,

the presence of the vacuum being made more continuous and'positiveby an automatic eX- h'austing fan, which, having once .attained arhigh sneed of rotation, occasioned by :the drafft's within .the chimney, providesffor the maintenance of a vacuum within the system and which results in the continuous'ejec-l tion /o'fjair therefrom.

Afurther. object is to so arrange andi de sign the various parts that the Yentire Aapparatus can be ec'ioi'iomicallv manufactured,-

and the. various' parts easilyY accessible and may be removed and replaced in an expeditious manner, and .with these and other objects in view, the invention resides in lthe combination and arrangement of parts and integer details. e'fcenstructionhereinafter Ide? is avvview4 in cross-section taken lon the lline of Fig. l; Fig. -3 is a fragmental View in' top plan ofthe valve chamber adjacent to .and includingV its connection with,- the condensing chamber; and Fig. 4'- is an enlarged sectional vview of the rear extremity ofthe expansible member and accompanying parts, and bvmeans of which the temperature at which the valvev automatig cally closes, maybe easily adjusted.

Referring specifically tothe severalviews, the air removing Vapparatus includes the 'specifications Latas raten: .Patented Mauss, [1916. Applicationfiled March 8,1915. SeIa1^No.12,942. l f j main.condensing'chamber 6, which is provided with the `apertured lugs 17, whereby it. may be supportedin a rigid'manner Withf out bringing undue strains to--bear uponthe parts whichl are connected-thereto. VThecondensing vchamber. is provided Vwith the inlet opening 8, preferably located about the center` of one'of its sides, and has the-adjwv cent walls of the chamber reinforced, as at 9, whereby'it is adapted to support avalve i chamber v10.

'The air .which-is allowed to escape through the valve chamber or which lis drawn there:

Ythrrugh bythe vacuumwhich is n'iaintainedA Within Y the condensing` chamber. strikes against the perforated baille-platesv 11, so that any moisture or steam, whichmayvbe present thereinwill be condensed `and'vwill gravitate to the central and vlowered outlet opening 12 with which Vthe 'bottom `,wall of the condensing chamber is provided. This outlet opening l2 is internally threaded,l asL at 13,providing for the reception of theH water delivery pipe14`by.means,of whichV the Water ofcondensation is returned to the boiler, it being understood that a suitable check :valve or'analogous mechanism is employe'd in connection with the deliverypipe r14V preventing the occurrence of back pressures withinv the condensing chamber, and at the Sametime. allowing forthepassage gf .the .maar .cfjcoadeiisatica tliereiram-L The side wall of the condensing chamber,

which is located opposite to that provided with the opening 8, is provided with a similar opening l5, the edges of which are reinforced, as at 16, and to which theexhaust` p chamber 17 is secured. Leading from the exhaustchamber isl the pipe 18 the far extremity of which communicates with the chimney flue, providingfor the occurrence of a vacuum within the exhaust chamber and which results in the removal ofthe air from the condensingl chamber 6, and from the entire heating system to which'the valve chamber 10 is connected, andV in connection with which tliepresent apparatus is used.

The valve chamber'lO is provided, at its one extremity, with the outwardly projecting flange 19 through which extend thesecuring bolts 20, the latter engaging suitable threaded openings formed inthe reinforcing side walls 9 of the condensing chamber. Projecting inward and located at the flanged extremity of the valve chamber is the spider or perforated bracket 21, the center of which isprovided with the threaded aperture 22, and by means of which a rod 23 is supported so as to extend axially ofthe valve chamber. The rod 23 receives the expansible member 24 thereon, the same being provided, with the longitudinally extending opening 25', which nicely receives the sup-` porting rod 23 therein. rl `he `expansible member ispreferably formed of'carbon or analogous material possessing the requisite 35- thermal .co-eiiicient'ofexpansion and other properties rendering it especially adapted for the purposes'in hand.

rlhe Acarbon post is provided with the threaded vfront extre1nity'26, yto .which the valvehead' 27, preferably formed of metal, is threadedly secured. The adjacent extremity of the valve chamber is internally threaded, as at 28, and receives the valve seat member 29 therein, the latter being provided Ywith the externally threaded yextremity 30, which engages the valve chamberV and effects a tight juncture therewith through the rinstrumentality of the upstaiidf ing tlange 31. The forward or exposed exs ti'emity of the valve seat member 29 is provided with the wrench-engageable surface 82, allowing thefvalve seat member to, be

readily'removed and replaced, and providA ing for the inspection andV renewal of the valve seat proper 38. The valve seat proper is ot' the nature of a resilient gasket .held in place by the countersunk screws 34, which engage suitable openings provided therefor in the valve seat member. The valve seat member isin the form of a reducing nipple, in that it is provided with the threaded opening 35, extending therethrough, and to which ythe air trunk line 36, leading from the various radiators is connected.

.In order-that the. temperature at .which gages the successive notches or the valve will close may be adjusted, the rod-like support 23 is provided lwith the. sleeve 37 slidably mounted thereon, the forf ward extremity'of` which is provided with the, face plate 38 having the beveled rim 39. The face plate,with its beveled rim, abuts against the rear extremity of theexpansiblef. post or member 24-and is adapted to advance it toward or allow it to retract from the valve seat 33. In order ltoeffectually carry out this last-mentioned operation, the. sleeve'is provided with the rack teeth 40, and with which the rackgear or pinion41 is-in constant mesh. The gear 41 is carried@ by a shaft 42, the latter extending up. l80 through the externally threaded vsleeve-like gland member. 43. The gland member exfr r tends through athreaded opening 44 in theside wall of the valve chamber andY is `of such size as to allowV it :to be removed together with theeshaft and pinion 4l, render ing the various parts easily accessible.; An; indexed or graduated 'wheel 45 is carried'at the Vupper and vexposed extremity` `ofgthe shaft 42, and by means of ywhich the lgear 41 may be manually rotated to thereby ad-V just the temperature atvwhich" the'valvez willy close. The wheel45 is held in adjustedfponl sition by the spring retainer 46, whichy en' yserrations 47, provided upon the outerperipherylof` thev wheel. In this connection,attention is called to the fact thatshouldthe expansible member 24 be exposed to'abnormal pressures or temperatures, yundue compressive 10o strains will be prevented romarising there' in, due to the fact kthattlie spring retainer or paw] 4G will allowy fori-the i'orced rota? tion of the wheel, and therearward move-- ment of the sleeve 37 and 4.parts connectedy 195 therewith. By thus eliminating any chanceY of undue compressive strain bearing upon the expansible member, its long life and x eiiicient operation is'assured. r

An outlet opening-:49 is provided at the 11o upper extremityv ofthe condensing chamber; and` to which Va ypet cockO is threadedly sey cured." Bvmeans of lthispet cock. the a: curate .adjustment of the automatic valve' mechanism contained Vwithin the valve cham-'i115 ber l10 may be easily accomplished. By'y opening the pet cockO, the quantity'fof steam passing through' the valve chamber can be observed. and with thepet cock` so l positioned, the wheel 45 can be turned and` 120 held into such positionas willv allow onlya minute' quantity of vapor to escape. or it may be so'adj listed as to allow a considerable amount of Steam to pass therethrough pro-y viding for the operation `of the /entire'heatf 12.5 ing system under high temperatures,` ity being noted however. thatv with the pet cock strikingth'e-baie-plates 11, .the moisture will be 'condensed and returned to the. heat-l ing system 'through the delivery pipe 14.

The exhaust chamber 17 is provided with the .iiange .51 at its one extremity and through' which the holding bolts'52 pass,gthe latter engaging the reinforced sides "16"of the lcondensing chamber. tween the flange 51 of the l'exhaust'chamber and the .adjacent 'sides of :the condensing chamber is a disk Y53, the `same being provided with perfogrations, allowing the passage vof air therethrough. The flue rconnection 18, which communicates With the flue of va chimney, is exposed to the drafts which 'occur therein, andin order to provide .for the more etlici'ent 'formation of a vacuum Within the/condensing `chamber, f'du'e to vsuoli .draf-ts, an exhaust `fan '54. is provided., the same .being ylocated :iviithinthe exhaust chamber -and.supportedby the Vfan carrying frame 55. The fan. carrying .frame includes the disl;.,53,fafo're. mentioned, anda second and perforated disk 56, which is heldin spaced relation thereto bythe posts 57 the saiddisks carry suitable stud screws 58 which engage suitable bearings upon the exhaust fa'n54 and support the fan `for free `and .practically` frictionls's rotation. l

.An opening 59 is provided in the upper Wall of the exhaust chamber directly7 above theV fan and is closed by the cap plate 60 providing for the introduction 'of a lubricant linto the exhaust chamber and upon the bearings ofthe fan, a singleoilingrsufcing fora considerable length of time.

The drafts Within the chimney naturally create a vacuum Within the lue'connection 18 and provide for the removal of suoli air as may be present Within the condensing chamber, the action being materially 'facilitated by the rapid rotation of the fan54,

which, having once attained a high rotation, provides for the continuous removal of air from the condensing chamber, even though the drafts within the chimney be of a fluctuating or intermittent nature.

With the apparatus, as thus constructed,

it may be used for various purposes, but is.

primarily intended to be connected with the air return from the radiators of a steam or vapor heating system, and, Whenso used, dispenses with separate automatic thermalcontrolled valves at each radiator or heating ccil. Furthermore, the use of the present apparatus allows a heating system to be operated at pressures ranging from a few ounces to many pounds. Adjusting the one valve, attained by rotatingr the Wheel 45, thus suffices for each and all radiators, and provides for the removal or Withdrawal of air from the entire heating system, and prevents the escapement of steam or vaoors therefrom. Should it be so desired, a slight Interposed besaid valve. y y

3. An automatic air outlet valve comprisamount of -steam-er'vapors vmay beY .allowed to constantly A'escapethrough the thermalcontrolled land automatic valve mechanism, :a nicety of adjustment being possible by vopeninal the perceel: 50 Iand regulatingthefwheel 45 until'theid'esired effect is obtained.

, nThe1apparati'i's,*as-thus constructed, frmay be v,used in connectionivith a number of ferent "styles of heating systems, V.for efxample, .it may be-in'serted Within .the vtrunik air line which leadsfrom the various'radjiat'ois, or. it maybe connected to the return main vfrom/che .radiators vWit-.hout special piping therefor..

Having thus described .my invention, jvvhat' I claim is':'

f L1A valve mechanismfof vthe .class describe-d, comprising a easing, a perforated supportatione extremity thereof, a rod carried by said perforated vsupport and extending axially of said easing, an exjoansiblefpost moimtedy uponsaid irvd, a Vvalve head and seat carried by the adiacent extremities of saidcasing and expansible post,'a sleeve slid- Y ably mounted Vupon said rod abuttingagainst the 'extremity of said eXpan'sible-post and.

adaptedto--advance the sameA along `said rod support. Y

i2.- An automatic air outlet valve comprising acasinfg, an expansible member-slidably mounted therein, la valve head and seat carried-by the adjacent and front'extremities of ysaid casing andV said expansible member,- a rack member abutting against the rear eX: tremity-of said expansible-po'st, a gearmeshing With said rack member,iand means eX- tending through said casing engaging said gear providing for the manual rotation thereof and controlling the adjust 'ent of ing a casing, an "expansibl'ev member Aslid- 'ably''riiounted therein, a valve head and seat carried by the adjacent and front extremities of said casing andsaid expansible member, a rack member abutting against the rear extremity of said expansible post, a gear Vmeshing With said rack member, and means extending through 'said casing engaging said gear providing for the manual rotation thereof and controlling'the adjustment of said valve, and resilient means adapted to hold the aforementioned-gear-rotatingV means in adjusted positions.

4. An automatic thermal-controlled air outlet valve comprising a casing, a spider carried thereby, a rod lsupport extending axially of said casing. and carried bv said spider, an expansible post provided with an axial opening extendingin one end thereof, slidably mounted upon and supported by said rod, a sleeve slidablv mounted upon said rod and provided ivith rack bar teeth, a gear meshing with said rack bar teeth and of said rod, a wheel connected to 'saidigeaiy positionedy external of said casing, and a valvehead and seat carried .by said `casing and expan'sible member.

Y 5. An automatic thermal-controlled Vair outlet valve comprising fa casing, a spider carried thereby, a rod support extending axially ofsaid easing and vcarried bysaid spider, an expansible post provided With-an axial opening extending in one end thereof, slidably mounted upon and supported by said rod, a sleeve slidably mounted upon said rod and provided vvith rack. bar teeth, a gear meshing with said rack bar teeth and adapted to move said sleeve longitudinally of said rod, a yWheel connected to said gear, positioned external of said casing, and a valve head and seat carried by said casing and expansible member, said externally ex-A posed Wheel provided With notches, and a spring retainer `engaging said notches and resiliently holding said sleeve in adjusted positions.- y

6. An automatic thermal-controlled valve comprising in part, a rcd, an expansible member provided With an opening, extending therein, slidably mounted on said rod, a sleeve slidably mounted on said rod to the rear of said expansible member, said sleeve provided with a face plate with a beveled rim adapted to abut. againstfthe beveled rear extremity of said expansible member, and means adapted to move it longitudinally of said rod.` v

7 An automatic thermal-Controlled I :tir outlet valve comprising a casing, a perforated support extending transversely thereof, a rod extendingfaxially of said casing and carried by said perforated support, a wrench engageable valve member carried at Copies of thspatent may' be obtained Yifor ve cents each,.by addressing theijfConimissioner o12iatents;-

Washington, D. 0..1 i .l v f one `extremity of said valveic'asing," afi'z'ex-- pansible member slidablv mountedupon said' rod', a valve head carried .at one extremityzof said yexpansible member and coacting with'l the aforementioned-valve membento fallow airand prevent steam from passing through?-y said casing, a flanged sleeve mounted upon said rcdl to the rear offand abuttingagainstv said :expansible member, ra gland extending through thexside Wall of said valve casing,

a shaft extending through'said gland, a geark Wheell mounted.. uponithe. .innenextremity of;

G0, at the supported lextremity of said` casing,V a rod carried byjsaidcperforated support and extending axially Y of'. said "casing-yan1 expansible post `mounted upon said trod', a Y

valve Ihead; and seat carried by :thee-adjafcent extremities of. said casing, anexpansibleVr post, a sleeve -slidablymounted upon said'i-V rod andgabutting' againstthe extremity'of said expansible postrand adapted to advanceA the saine along said .rodfsupport,u=a,rack? member associated withy said sleeve, a Agear meshing 4With said :rack and resilientme'ans' carried by said condensingfcha'mber adapted to hold said gear against turning. i Signed at Westwood .in the county=-0f Bergen and State of NeWiJersey.

EDWARD R. TELLER, Jn.l

VVitnesses: Y l

Jnssn YV. JACKSON', i O. HARING. 

